Health information technology can be a powerful tool for improving the quality of health care delivery. Yet, the transition to implementation can be expensive and challenging, and it can sometimes be difficult to demonstrate the return on investment.

To prepare for this Application:

• Identify a specific challenge related to quality and safety. (This may be the same challenge you selected for this week's Discussion or a different one.)

• Investigate how health information technology could be used to address this challenge. Review the information presented in this week's Learning Resources, and conduct additional research of your own using the Walden library and credible Web sites. Then, narrow your focus to one type of technology that would be highly beneficial for addressing this challenge.

• Consider the potential outcomes associated with implementing this technology.

o What stakeholder concerns might arise?
o How would it potentially decrease (or would it possibly increase) systems errors and/or errors related to human factors?
o How could the return on investment be determined?

The Assignment

Write a 1- to 2-page paper that addresses the following:

• Identify a specific challenge related to quality and safety.
• Explain how health information technology could be used to address this challenge. (Make your response as specific as possible.)
• Evaluate possible outcomes of the implementation of this technology.

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources and from additional scholarly sources as appropriate, ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct

REFERENCES

• Article: Wachter, R. M. (2006). Expected and unanticipated consequences of the quality and information technology revolutions. Journal of the American Medical Association, 295(23), 2780-2783. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The author examines issues related to quality and safety efforts, including unanticipated consequences of computerization.

• Article: Leatherman, S., Berwick, D., Iles, D., Lewin, L. S., et al. (2003). The business case for quality: Case studies and an analysis. Health Affairs, 22(2), 17-30. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article poses the question: "Does improving quality yield a return on investment?" It presents four cases, and includes consideration of the costs and benefits to four stakeholders: providers, purchasers and employers, individual patients, and society.

• Article: Zhan, C., Friedman, B., Mosso, A., & Pronovost, P. (2006). MARKET WATCH: Medicare payment for selected adverse events: Building the business case for investing in patient safety. Health Affairs, 25(5), 1386-1 393. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article examines potential benefits of improving patient safety for hospitals that serve patients on Medicare and Medicaid.

• Article: Ward, W. J. Jr., Spragens, L., & Smithson, K. (2006, December). Building the business case for clinical quality. Healthcare Financial Management, 60(12), 92-8. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article presents a useful analysis of various factors that should be taken into account when building a business case for a clinical quality improvement initiative.

• Article: Conway, P., & Clancy, C. (2009). Transformation of health care at the front line. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(7), 763-7 65. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article addresses the intersections of quality measurement, payment, and health information technology.

• Article: Kaushal, R., Jha, A., Franz, C., Glaser, J., Shetty, K., Jaggi, T., et al. (2006). Return on investment for a Computerized Physician Order Entry System. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(3), 261-266. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article examines the implementation of a hospital CPOE at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

• Article: Simpson, R. (2005). Error reporting as a preventive force. Nursing Management, 36(6), 21-56. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article looks at the use of technology for error reporting and the cultural change needed to improve patient safety.
• Web Article: Burton, T. M. (2009, October 8). News in Depth: U.S. hospitals find way to make care cheaper-Make it better-P ublishing outcomes can boost results, one state discovers. Wall Street Journal(Europe), p. 14. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article discusses efforts in Pennsylvania to improve quality of care while reducing costs.

• Web Article: Devine, E. B., Hansen, R. N., & Wilson-Norton, J. L., et al. (2010, January). The impact of Computerized Provider Order Entry on medication errors in a multispecialty group practice. JAMIA, 17, 78-84.

http://jamia.bmj.com/content/17/1/78.full.pdf?sid=e595667a-3af1-4475-af8d-7800ab08b1a6